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This intimate celebration almost didn’t happen due to a hurricane only weeks before, but thanks to a talented team of vendors and friends and family, this couple pulled it off. Held at the gorgeous Cabo Surf Hotel, these two said “I do” among sandy shores and loved ones, soaking up every inch of beauty that Mexico has to offer, and Sara Richardson captured it all. Feel the sand on your toes right here.

From The Bride… San Jose del Cabo holds a special place in our hearts, so when Christian and I became engaged we immediately decided that we wanted to be married in San Jose del Cabo at the Cabo Surf Hotel.

Just weeks before our wedding, Hurricane Odile came ashore close to our wedding venue. We were deeply saddened to see the destruction Odile caused to the area, and to the lives of the people who live there. With heavy hearts, we canceled our October 11, 2014 wedding at the Cabo Surf Hotel because no airlines were flying into the area. This decision was especially difficult because Christian’s family had already traveled to the United States from Australia to attend our wedding, and would be unable to return for a later wedding date.

Then, days before October 11, 2014, it was announced that one flight a day would be flying to Los Cabos from Los Angeles. Christian and I quickly decided that we wanted to get both of our families on one of those flights, so we could get married at one of our favorite places in the world, surrounded by the most important people in our lives. Luckily, we were able to get plane tickets for everyone. I also called all of our vendors, and everyone was still able to be a part of our wedding.

When we arrived at the Cabo Surf Hotel, the staff graciously greeted us with margaritas and made us feel very welcome. Throughout our stay, Martha and the entire Hotel staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the Hotel would be beautiful for our wedding. And it was. Our wedding day was effortless. We began the day swimming in the ocean and relaxing by one of the Hotel’s swimming pools. Afterwards, Christian got ready with the boys – our son, Byron, and my step-son, Baden. And I got ready with my Mom.

Byron and Baden were our two best men, and all four of us walked down the aisle together as a family. We wrote our own vows, and our friend, Chris Johnson, officiated the wedding. The flowers designed by Pina Hernandez were beyond perfect. Adan Mijares sang and played the Mexican guitar beautifully. Martha Lomeli seamlessly organized the entire event. And our photographer, Sara, with her husband Ramon, captured the entire day in stunning photographs.

We ended our wedding day at a candlelit dinner table overlooking the ocean, laughing and enjoying time with our families. We could not have asked for a more special way to start our life together.

From Archive Rentals… Real Couple Nicolas & Melina chose Riviera Maya for their this shoot since this was the place they had met two years earlier on vacation. Nestled along the white sandy beaches of beautiful Mexico, and only a short flight from anywhere in the States, lies the Riviera Maya, encompassing three popular destination honeymoon spots: Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. With warm weather year round, turquoise oceans, beautiful resorts, it’s no wonder couples are choosing to marry in this Caribbean destination.

From Crosby + Jon… There’s something so romantic about a ceremony on the sand with just a bride & groom, and these photos prove it.

We were inspired by the romantic elements of the Riviera Maya. The Carribean Sea, the soft white sand, the vividly colored flowers speckled amongst the lush, green rainforest. We wanted to evoke the relaxed, yet refined atmosphere of the Rosewood Mayakoba in her dress, hair, makeup & floral design. The groom looks casually cool, yet sophisticated, amongst the cool architecture of the Rosewood Mayakoba.

Rosewood Mayakoba was our first choice because it is truly the definition of paradise. It is one of our favorite places to work because the property is romantic, secluded and stunningly beautiful from every angle. But more importantly, the wedding team at Rosewood is beyond exceptional. They treat guests with such care and attention, everyone feels like a VIP.

And what a romantic day it was! Nicholas and Melina couldn’t keep their hands off each other… smooching and holding hands between shots. Lane Dittoe photographed the day and captured their love for each other in a natural, breathtaking way.

Our designs for the day were inspired by the bright, sunny hues of Mexico, using shades of blue, orange, mango, turquoise, yellow and pearl. We found local florals, which were artfully crafted on-site by Krista Jon and her team. For decor we turned to Archive Mexico for a beautiful collection of rustic wood furniture combined with brightly colored plates, linens, & accessories.

The real showstopper, however, is that blue-hued dress! R-Mine blew us and Melina away with the pastel sky blue ceremony gown that so perfectly evoked the serene vibe of the Caribbean sea. In the end, the couple be more pleased with this day and their photos. Everything was perfect. The dress, the couple, the Caribbean… All were absolute magic!

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I’ve seen a lot of gorgeous Cancun weddings in my day, but never one done quite like this. Think sophisticated gold hues, a stunning al fresco reception (complete with chandeliers) and a fun four day weekend with some crazy pampering. This, my friends, is Cancun glamour to the extreme. See it all captured by Ashley McCormick right here, and in the breathtaking film from Justin Clough below.

From Ashley McCormick… Lindsey and Jeremy were married at the gorgeous Le Blanc Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The pair loves to travel together, and having been to Cancun a few times throughout their relationship, they knew it would be the perfect destination spot for their intimate, 50 person wedding. Le Blanc is a gorgeous hotel that is all white, giving the wedding a modern and airy feel to it. Lindsey left no detail undone, flying over seven suitcases down with her “details” for their big day. One of the most unique details was their “kissing maracas”, meant for the guests to shake to make the couple kiss; a little nod to the country they were in.

From the Mother of the Bride… Before stepping out, I took a long look behind me. I could barely see her through the assembled wedding party who excitedly chatted in their flowing blush pink dresses and black tuxes with bow ties. The late afternoon sun was still bright in a cloudless sky and palm trees bowed to the warm breeze… it was Cancún, after all. My daughter, Lindsey, was about to marry her best friend, Jeremy, and I wanted to cherish the moment.

Finally I caught a glimpse of the beautiful bride. We were gathered in the resort’s lobby ready to proceed to the ceremony on a grassy area overlooking the ocean. Lindsey looked radiant… a bouquet of assorted soft-colored peonies in one hand and her father’s arm in the other. After 16 months of preparations, it was time to walk down the aisle.

Lindsey grew up in Wisconsin and when she moved west, I jokingly told her to “find a nice Midwestern boy.” And within a year she met Jeremy, who is also from Wisconsin! After four years of dating, he proposed to her during a Sunday morning hike through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve near their Arizona home.

They wanted a destination wedding because it offered more than just a day to celebrate, although, finding the right place took time. They explored tropical locations from the Dominican Republic to Jamaica. It was the all-inclusive Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancún that offered everything they were looking, so they set the date for April 26, 2014.

Lindsey has exquisite style, so we knew everything would be exceptional, yet we were stunned by her impeccable attention to detail. It started with the invitation that arrived in a gold-lined, ivory envelope addressed in her creative handwriting. Inside she wrapped the ivory linen cards together in black grosgrain ribbon secured with a pearl-studded pin. Lindsey chose elegant calligraphy for the invitation that had details about the weekend’s festivities, resort accommodations, and activities including golf and spa treatments. There was also a link to the bride and groom’s website with information about booking flights and passports, profiles of the wedding party and their love story.

Upon arriving at Le Blanc, we were welcomed with champagne flutes filled with luxurious coconut milk. While seated at the check-in desk, the staff offered us warm neck wraps and every woman received a rose. It was impossible not to be distracted by the wall-to-wall glass doors framing a spectacular view of the infinity pool and stunning blue ocean! The adorably-kind butlers delivered gift bags from the bride and groom to every guest room before our arrival. Lindsey had stamped “LJ” in gold on the bags and filled them with little treats and necessities, plus some of the couple’s favorite things. An especially great idea was the covered cups with straws to use by the pool that she customized with “LJ” and a sparkly diamond ring sticker for the girls and a mustache for the guys. Also enclosed was a “Welcome to México!” packet printed on ivory linen cards and tied with pretty tulle ribbon. It included a schedule of the wedding events, helpful Spanish phrases, information about the resort and spa, and a sweet note from Lindsey and Jeremy.

The four-day celebration began on Thursday evening with the wedding rehearsal. On Friday evening, the Lindsey and Jeremy hosted a Welcome White Party on the beach. We all dressed in white, left our shoes behind and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and signature “white” drinks with gold foil napkins saying “Every great love story begins with a cocktail, at least ours did!” As the sun set, we lingered and mingled on the white, cushioned couches for hours.

The wedding was at 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Before the ceremony, Lindsey and Jeremy shared an emotional “first look.” They met in the lobby where its floor-to-ceiling white draperies provided a studio-like backdrop for photographs. After pictures with the wedding party and family, it was time for the wedding. Well, after the bridesmaids shared a private toast with Lemon Drop shots!

About 55 guests welcomed the bride as she walked down an aisle covered in pale pink and ivory rose petals. The accompanying music was Canon in D, a song Lindsey had grown up playing on the piano and dreamt about hearing someday as she walked toward her handsome groom. Lindsey and Jeremy shared individually-written vows and happy tears. After a sentimental blessing by the officiant, the new Mr. and Mrs. Riechers kissed and glowingly retreated hand-in-hand to Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend.”

While the wedding party took pictures and had fun with the videographer, guests were led to an outdoor minibar featuring bride and groom specialty drinks with blush/white or gold/white striped straws. Lindsey also had gold foil napkins reading “Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy and Lindsey Riechers.” When the wedding party joined the guests, we toasted the newlyweds with champagne. Before dinner everyone gathered in the lobby where Lindsey’s brother, Owen, surprised the couple by playing “River Flows in You” on the grand piano.

As we stepped onto the private terrace for the reception, the sunset was breathtaking. Guests were seated at round tables with gold sequined tablecloths and statuesque vases of peonies, roses and ranunculus. The lavender lighting and floating candles in staggered vessels created a magical atmosphere. On each gold-beaded dinner charger was a menu card rimmed in sparkling gold with place cards set in crystal, diamond-shaped holders. The bride and groom were seated with the wedding party at a large table. Vases wrapped in ivory silk bows held the bridesmaid’s bouquets. Lindsey and Jeremy planned their wedding to be black tie, yet they also wanted a touch of México. So they provided gold maracas decorated with tulle ribbon and a tag saying, “Shake this to make the Mr. & Mrs. Kiss!”

Following dessert, Jeremy made a loving toast to his bride and guests. Then suddenly the large, terrace double doors opened to a lighted dance floor and energetic music by Miami DJ Benji Solis. We all flooded the dance floor!In the terrace lobby, everyone had fun taking Polaroids for the guest book and writing in marriage advice, silly memories and good wishes for the newlyweds. On an adjoining table, black & white wedding photos of Lindsey and Jeremy’s relatives were displayed in antique gold frames. Midnight arrived much too soon!

The day after the wedding was set aside for relaxing in the warm México sunshine. Guests lounged by the pool or in beachfront cabanas, walked along the shore and took advantage of spa treatments.

On Monday morning Lindsey and Jeremy hosted a Newlywed Brunch in a secluded poolside area. There were platters of scrumptious pastries, fresh fruits, mimosas, hot or chilled coffees, and plenty of luxurious coconut milk! All of the food and service at Le Blanc was excellent — the staff always replied to guests with “It’s my pleasure!” We admitted to being spoiled for life!

Before leaving for the airport that afternoon, I looked back and cherished seeing my daughter with her new husband both so happily in love and ready to begin their new life together!